Slip on easel for books or like articles



G- O. BUCHHOLTZ SLIP ON EASEL FOR BOOKS OR LIKE ARTICLES June 19, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1960 INVENTOR GEORGE 0. fiuchwou-z ATTORNEY June 19, 1962 G. o. BUCHHOLTZ 3,039,227

SLIP ON EASEL FOR BOOKS OR LIKE ARTICLES Filed Dec. 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GEORGE 0. flue/mm Tz WQ/MW ATTORNEY G. O. BUCHHOLTZ SLIP ON EASEL FOR BOOKS OR LIKE ARTICLES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I: III!III!!!IIIIIIII IIIIIFIIIIIIII g GEO/e05 O. BUCHHOLTZ ATTORNEY June 19, 1962 Filed Dec. 2, 1960 United States Patent 3,039,227 SLIP ON EASEL FOR BOOKS OR LIKE ARTICLES George 0. Buchholtz, Paramus, N J., assignor to Slip On Easel Corporation, Paramus, NJ. Filed Dec. 2, 1960, Ser. No. 73,412 8 Claims. (Cl. 45-85) The present invention relates to a slip on easel for books or like articles and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of parts herein described and claimed.

Generally there is provided a pair of relatively stiff panels of cardboard or similar material, said panels being of rectangular shape and approximately the same dimensions. The upper edges of said panels are connected together by hinge-like means which permit the rear panel to swing at its lower edge away from the front panel of the easel so as to serve as a prop for holding the front book-supporting panel in rearwardly tilted position. The

lower edges of the front and rear panels are joined by a third panel, which may be of material of lighter weight and less rigidity, said third panel being medially and longitudinally creased to provide a fold line along which said third panel may be folded into the space between the front and rear panels when the easel is folded for storage or shipment. Optionally the rear panel may be similarly provided with a scored crease or fold line so that the easel may be inverted by using the portion of the rear panel above the scored line as an alternative base for the easel. A vertically elongated strip of cardboard or similar material is fixed to the upper and lower edges of the front panel closer to one vertical edge of the front panel than to the other vertical edge thereof to serve as the means, or part of the means, for attaching the back of a book or like article to the easel for rearwardly tilted upright support of said book or like article.

The front or back cover of the book may be easily removably attached to the easel by inserting said front 'or back cover between the front easel panel and said vertically disposed strip of material, or said strip may be attached to the front panel by a bracket-like device having a pocket into which the lower edge of the book cover may be dropped while the upper edge of said cover may be engaged under one of a plurality of tongues struck out from said vertically disposed strip. In alternative constructions a clamp of the type used with clip boards may be vertically slidably attached to said strip for vertical movement into clamping engagement with the upper edge of the book front or back cover. As a further alternative, a second somewhat narrower strip of relatively stifl material may be centrally disposed over the first attachment strip so that one of the book covers may be inserted between the two strips. A buckle-like device embraces both of the strips and is slidably moved therealong to clamp the two strips tightly together at the upper edge of the book cover.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a novel folding easel formed of a plurality of relatively stiif panels which when folded from a flat package of a size slightly greater than the closed book to relatively stiff panels which when folded form a flat packbe supported thereby, and when opened provide a relatively rigid tent-shaped support for holding the book in upright rearwardly tilted position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a deice vice of the type disclosed in which the rear panel of the easel is provided with a horizontally disposed centrally located crease to define a hinge whereby the upper portion of the rear panel may be utilized as a base for the easel when inverted, and in which the book attaching means comprises a vertically disposed strip of material attached at its upper and lower ends to the upper and lower edges of the front panel and is located closer to one vertical edge of said panel than to the other whereby either the front or the back book cover may be inserted thereunder, with said strip being disposed to the left or right side of said easel as selectively inverted.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an easel of the type disclosed in which the upper edge of the book cover is gripped by one of a plurality of vertically spaced tongues struck out from the book-gripping portion of the easel, with the lower edge of the book cover being received in a channel-like pocket device attached to the lower edge of the front panel.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a folding book easel having a front panel, a strip of material extending vertically over the face of said panel toward one lateral edge thereof, a bracket fixed to the easel adjacent the bottom of said strip and a spring pressed clip clamp slidably adjustably along said strip for clamping the upper edge of a book cover to said easel.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an easel of the herein disclosed type in which the front panel of the easel is provided with a pair of vertically disposed superimposed strips of material and a bucklelike sliding member adjustably movable downwardly against the upper edge of a book cover inserted between said strips.

It is another object to provide a device of the character set forth which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet effective and efficient in use.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the easel of FIG- URE 1 shown in its alternative inverted use position,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged end elevational view in section, taken on the line 44 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view in section, taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the under surface of the disclosure of FIGURE 3,

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a further modification of the book-gripping portion of the easel,

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged elevational view of the showing of FIGURE 7 in section taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7,

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of the device of FIGURES 7 and 8 in section, taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 8,

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of another species of the book-holding portion of the easel,

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged end elevational view of 3 the disclosure of FIGURE 1, in section, taken on the line 1111, of FIGURE 10,

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of a further modification of the book-holding portion of the easel.

With reference now to FIGURES l and 2 of the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the easel, which is formed basically of a pair of relatively stifi front and rear panels 11 and 12 of cardboard, sheet plastic or other suitable material, and a bottom panel 13 hingedly joined at its front and rear margins to the lower edges of the front and rear easel panels 11 and 12 by hinge forming creases or score lines 14 and 15. A similarly formed crease or fold line 16 divides the panel v13 into equal halves so that the elements can be folded into the phantom shown position of FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 2 for shipping or storing of the easel.

The upper overlapping margins of the front panel 11 and the rear panel 12 may be cemented together and/ or fixed to each other as by rivets 17.

The front marginal edge of the base panel 13 is provided with an upturned hingedly connected flange-like portion 18 fixed to the rear lower marginal portion of the front panel 11 as by cementing and/or rivets 19.

The holder for the book cover (designated 19') is a strip of cardboard or equivalent strip 20 of cardboard or equivalent strip 20 of cardboard or equivalent material, the upper and lower ends of which are reversely bent at 21 and 22 and embraced between the overlapping upper marginal portions of panels 11 and 12 and between the lower marginal portion of panel 11 and the upturned flange-like portion 18 of the base panel 13. The holding action of the panel portions against the strip ends 21 and 22 may be enhanced by the addition of cement in forming the joint.

A pencil holder 23 is formed of a short section of strip material doubled upon itself and having its overlapped ends 24 inserted in and cemented in the joint between the panels 11 and 12 and the downturned end portion 21 of the strip 20.

In the species of FIGURES 3 through 6, the easel, generally designated 30, comprises front panel 31, a rear panel 32 and a base panel 33 which are essentially of the same construction as their counterparts 11, 12 and 13 of the above described species. The rear panel 32, however, is not divided by hinge-like means into upper and lower panels as in the species of FIGURES 1 and 2, although this expedient may be employed if it is desired to make this form of the invention invertible. The marginal portions of the panels 31 through 33 are joined by rivets 34 and/ or cement, as desired.

The book supporting strip 35 is fixed at its upper and lower ends to the easel proper in the same manner as the strip 28. However, in this modification of the invention the back of the book is carried at its lower margin by seating the same in a channel 36 provided in the bracket device 37 fixed to the lower extremity of the strip 35' by rivets 38. The upper portion of the book cover (not shown) is gripped by a clip board type device generally designated 39. Said device 39 comprises a base plate 40, the ends 41 and 42 of which are bent over and behind the lateral margins of the strip 35 to provide sliding channels for adjustably guiding the device 39 up and down the strip 35 in adjusting the easel for holding books of varying heights. The clamp jaw 43 is a piece of sheet metal or sheet plastic having rearwardly turned cars 44 pivotally connected to the base 40 in known or conventional manner. Jaw member 43 has a thumb engageable lever 45, behind which and between the same and the base 40 is located a coil spring 46 which urges the lever portion 45 away from the base 40 and thereby presses the jaw portion 43 into firm book holding engagement with the book cover.

As best shown in FIGURES and 6, one or more pairs of pressure adhering plate-like elements 47 and 48 may be cemented or otherwise attached to the outer bot- 4 tom portions of the base panel 33 so as to interengage when the easel 30 is folded, as shown in FIGURE 5 and as indicated by the directional arrows 49 in FIGURE 6. One of said elements 47 and 48 may be a piece of napped cloth and the other may carry a multiplicity of upright fingers provided with nap gripping barbs on their ends.

In the species of FIGURES 7 and 8, the strap 50, corresponding to the strap 20 in FIGURE 1, is afiixed by its upturned and downturned ends 51 and 52, respectively, to and between the front and rear panels of the easel (not shown) as previously described. Panel 50 is overlain by a second strip 53 fixed thereto by rivets 54. A book edge gripping member 55, corresponding to member 37 previously described, is attached to the strip 53 by rivets 56.

The upper margin of the book cover (not shown) is to be gripped by a vertically adjustable clamping device generally designated 57. Device 57 comprises a base plate 58 and a jaw element 59 swingably attached thereto by hinge means 60 including coil springs 61 which yieldably urge the jaw 59 into gripping and holding engagement with a book back.

Clamping device 57 is mounted on the strip 53 by a pair of rivets 62 which extend through a slot 63 in the strip 53 and are expanded behind said slot 63, as shown in FIGURE 8, to act as sliding guides for vertical movement of the clamping device 57 relative to the guiding slot 63. A strip 64 of elastic material is anchored to the plate 58 by the lower of the rivets 62 and to the strip 53 by one of the rivets 54 which also passes through the lower end of the elastic strip 64. Elastic strip 64 thus exerts a constant downward pull which ensures that the clamping device 57 will at all times firmly engage against the upper edge of the cover of a book being supported on the easel.

As a refinement, a guide and retaining plate of sheet metal or plastic, designated 65, may be held by the rivets 62 in sliding engagement with the rear surface of the front strip 53.

In the species of FIGURES 11 and 10, respectively, the strip 70, corresponding to the strip 20 of FIGURE 1, is anchored by its upturned and downturned ends 71 and 72, respectively, to the lower and upper margins of an easel (not herein shown) basically similar to the easel of the previously described species. Strip 70 is shown as being backed by a relatively thin piece of strip mate rial the margins of which are turned over and cemented to the lateral portions of the strip 70 at 73 and 74. At the lower end of strip 70 there is attached a book supporting bracket element 75, similar to bracket element 55 of FIGURE 7, which bracket is fixed to the strip 70 by rivets 76. The upper portion of the strip 70 is provided with a vertically arranged series of die cut tongues 77 which are selectively usable to engage the upper edge of book backs of various dimensions. The material of the strip 78 is suificiently resilient to ensure firm gripping engagement of the tongues 77 against the upper margin of a book back.

In the species of FIGURE 12, the strip 80 corresponding to the strip 20 previously described, is similarly fixed by its upturned and downturned ends 81 and 82, respectively, to a similar easel (not shown). Strip 80 is overlain by a similar strip 83 fastened at its ends to the strip 80 and receivable in the same manner. Strip 83 is desirably somewhat narrower than the strip 80 to facilitate separation of the strips for the purpose of inserting a back or front cover of a book between the strips.

A buckle 84, desirably made of sheet metal or molded plastic material, snugly embraces the strips 80 and 83 for vertical sliding adjustment along said strips 80 and 83. A finger grip attached to buckle 84 or formed integrally therewith, facilitates vertical adjusting engagement of the buckle like clamp 57 in FIGURE 8.

It should be noted that the division of the back panel into two hingedly connected panels as described in the species of FIGURES l and 2, could be utilized in any of the other species of the invention to provide invertability of the easel for the purposes cited. Also a pencil holder or like element 23 of FIGURE 1 could be added to any of the other forms of the invention. Likewise, elements 47 and 48, disclosed in FIGURES 5 and 6, for holding the folded easel in the collapsed condition of FIGURE 5, could be used with any of the other modifications of the invention. 7

While but certain forms of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A folding easel for supporting books or like articles in upright position, comprising: a front panel, a rear panel swingably connected to said front panel adjacent the upper edges of said panels, a bottom panel swingably joined at its front and rear edges, respectively, to the front and rear panels adjacent their lower edges, said bottom panel being longitudinally divided into two sections by hinge means permitting infolding of said sections between said front and rear panels for collapsing of said easel into a flat package, and means for fastening a book or like article to said easel, said means comprising a relatively narrow vertically disposed strip of sheet material located to one side of the center of said front panel and attached to said front panel adjacent the upper and lower margins of said front panel and said strip, said rear panel being divided into an upper section and a lower section by hinge means, whereby the upper section of said rear panel can be used as a base for said easel when inverted, with both sections of said bottom panel lying flat and coplanarly against the back surface of said front panel.

2. A folding easel according to claim 1, said fastening means additionally comprising a second strip of sheet material overlying said first-mentioned strip, whereby laminar portions of .a book or like article may be inserted between said strips for support of the former by the latter.

3. A folding easel according to claim 2, additionally comprising a buckle-like device slidably embracing said strips so as to clampingly press said strips against the front and rear faces of at least the upper surfaces of a laminar portion of the supported article.

4. A folding easel according to claim 1, additionally comprising means fastened to said easel adjacent the lower end of said strip and having a channel-like upwardly open pocket for receiving the lower margin of a laminar portion of the supported article, and a clip-type clamp for engaging the upper margin of said laminar portion, said clamp having a base portion vertically slidably engaging said strip for adjustment of said clamp to articles of various heights.

5. A folding easel for supporting books or like articles in upright position, comprising: a front panel, a rear panel swingably connected to said front panel adjacent the upper edges of said panels, a bottom panel swingably joined at its front and rear edges, respectively to the front and rear panels adjacent their lower edges, said bottom panel being longitudinally divided into two sections by hinge means permitting infolding of said sections between said front and rear panels for collapsing of said easel into a fiat package, means for fastening a book or like article to said easel, said means comprising a vertically disposed strip of sheet material attached to said front panel adjacent the upper and lower margins of said front panel and said strip, means fastened to said easel adjacent the lower end of said strip and having a channel-like upwardly open pocket for receiving the lower margin of a laminar portion of the supported article, a clip-type clamp for engaging the upper margin of said laminar portion, said clamp having a base portion vertically slidably engaging said strip for adjustment of said clamp to articles of various heights, said strip having at least one vertically disposed slot therein and said base portion having guiding means passing through said slot, and means fixed to said guiding means behind said strip for retaining said clamp movably against the face of said strip.

6. A folding easel for supporting books or like articles in upright position, comprising: a front panel, a rear panel swingably connected to said front panel adjacent the upper edges of said panels, a bottom panel swingably joined at its front and rear edges, respectively, to the front and rear panels adjacent their lower edges, said bottom panel being longitudinally divided into two sections by hinge means permitting infolding of said sections between said front and rear panels for collapsing of said easel into a fiat package, means for fastening a book or like article to said easel, said means comprising a vertically disposed strip of sheet material attached to said front panel adjacent the upper and lower margins of said front panel and said strip, and means fastened to said easel adjacent the lower end of said strip and having a channel-like upwardly open pocket for receiving the lower margin of a laminar portion of the supported article, and said strip having a series of vertically spaced tongues struck out from said strip for engage ment over a horizontally disposed margin of a laminar portion of the supported article.

7. A folding easel for supporting books or like articles in upright position, comprising: a front panel, .a rear panel swingably connected to said front panel adjacent the upper edges of said panels, a bottom panel swingably joined at its front and rear edges, respectively, to the front and rear panels adjacent their lower edges, said bottom panel being longitudinally divided into two sections by hinge means permitting infolding of said sections between said front and rear panels for collapsing of said easel into a flat package, means for fastening a book or like article to said easel, said means comprising a vertically disposed strip of sheet material attached to said front panel adjacent the upper and lower margins of said front panel and said strip, said rear panel being divided into an upper section and a lower section by hinge means, whereby the upper section of said rear panel can be used as a base for said easel when inverted, with both sections of said bottom panel lying fiat and coplanarly against the back surface of said front panel, means fastened to said easel adjacent the lower end of said strip and having a channel-like upwardly open pocket for receiving the lower margin of a laminar portion of the supported article, a clip-type clamp for engaging the upper margin of said laminar portion, said clamp having a base portion vertically slidably engaging said strip for adjustment of said clamp to articles of various heights, said strip having at least one vertically disposed slot therein and said base portion having guiding means passing through said slot, and means fixed to said guiding means behind said strip for retaining said clamp movably against the face of said strip.

8. A folding easel for supporting books or like articles in upright position, comprising: a front panel, a rear panel swingably connected to said front panel adjacent the upper edges of said panels, a bottom panel swingably joined at its front and rear edges, respectively, to the front and rear panels adjacent their lower edges, said bottom panel being longitudinally divided into two sections by hinge means permitting infolding of said sections between said front and rear panels for collapsing of said easel into a fiat package, means for fastening a book or like article to said easel, said means comprising a vertically disposed strip of sheet material attached to said front panel adjacent the upper and lower margins of said front panel and said strip, said rear panel being divided into an upper section and a lower section by hinge means, whereby the upper section of said rear panel can be used as a base for said easel when inverted,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Palmer Nov. 18, 1919 Payne Jan. 7, 1936 Finch Oct. 30, 1951 Goldman May 22, 1956 a c was, 

